Membership Meeting 06/24/2026
Chapter Business Meeting Slides: TBD
Speaker Slides: TBD
Topic: The Evolution of Network Engineering
What has changed in network engineering since the adoption of the Ethernet standard in 1983? No matter your role on the network, a lot has changed since 1983. Modern networks support faster speeds, greater data volume, enhanced security, and with that the expanded domain knowledge required of a network engineer. But even as network technology has evolved, we can find familiarity in the networks we operate. Ethernet is still predominant but faster, we still move packets and frames, TCP and UDP control our transport, and the network still connects our applications and services. This presentation looks at how the network and the role of the network engineer has evolved, the skills necessary for network engineers, and how AI and LLMs can up-skill and be a force multiplier.
Speaker: Matt Leuschner, Cisco Systems
Matt Leuschner is a Solutions Engineer at Cisco, where he has been helping customers transform their networks and embrace technology since 2019. With 23 years of experience across networking, automation and coding, high performance computing, virtualization, and desktop services, Matt brings a broad and practical perspective to solving technical challenges. He is passionate about technology, enjoys collaborating with others, and is always eager to share knowledge and innovative ideas. Matt has also developed several training sessions, as well as step-by-step hands-on labs, to help demonstrate the value of network automation through network simulation.
Feel free to reach out to Matt with questions, if you need advice, or want to learn more about his latest projects. Outside of work, Matt likes to spend time with his wife, Stephanie, and their Old English Sheepdog, Samantha. He’s also a member of the Charm City Ghostbusters, where you might spot him cruising Maryland in a replica Ecto-1, asking “Who are you going to call?”.
